Manually-operated tape-moistening machine.



C. H. CROWELL.

MANUALLY OPERATED TAPE MOISTENING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9. 1916.

/IT I 4,0 T f #IIIIIIIIL C. H. CROWELL.

MANUALLY OPERATED TAPE MOISTENING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9, I9I6.

' 1,288,388.. Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFQ.

MANUALLY-OPERATED TAPE-MOISTENING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

p1ication led otober 9, 1916. Serial No. 124,442.

To all wlw/a t may concer/n.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. Crowell., a citizen of the United States, and resident of the boroughl of Brooklyn, county of.

Kings, city and State of New York, have made a certain new and useful invention in Relation to Manually-Operated Tape- Moistening Machines, of which the following is'a specication, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, whlch forms part of the same.

This invention relates especially to tape moistening machines vin which the frame of the machine may carry or coperate with a moistener and with a' cutter preferably of the stationary type, Ithatv is, .one against which the tape is moved to sever the same. The cutter may with advantage be provided with a cutter lock to engage 'and hold the tape stationary during severance, and if desired a movable tape guard may be arranged to swing between the severed end of the tape and the moistener' which 'preferably has a square or polygonal support so as to present a flat moistening and wiping face of the moistener substantially in line with-the tape being withdrawn from the machine.

The frame is preferably arranged to accommodate, or coperate with a substantially sealed tape vcontainer whichf may be in thel form of a paper or other boX in which the tape roll is mounted, the tape being withdrawn as necessary from this container through a tape aperture substantially closed by a suitable flap or cover. In this way the tape roll may be revolubly mounted in this sealed container bythe manufacturer and after being shipped to the user in this condition the roll and container may be mounted in connection with the mcistener frame as by being slipped within suitable guides therein so that the frame more or less encircles the container and promotesthe com-- pactness and stiffness of the machine.

In the accompanying drawing showing in a somewhat diagrammatic way illustrative embodiments of this lmachine-- Figure 1 `is a vertical section taken substantially along the line 1'-1 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the tape container.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sidey view of parts of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a top view onsubstantially the same scale. i

Fig. 5 is a detail section showing the operating devices taken substantially along the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a somewhat similar view showing the parts in severing position.

Fig. 7 shows still another position of these parts.

Fig. 8 is aA detail perspective view of the moistener guard.

Fig. 9 is a. perspective view of the container securing clip.

Fig. 10 shows in detail the moistener holding pawl; and l Fig. 11 shows another form` of closing ap and aperture for the tape container.

The frame of this machine may, if desired,

comprise the frame base 43 of metal, for instance, to which suitable container guides 41' of preferably anged sheet metal constructionmay, if desired, be removably secured as by the screws or bolts 77, so that in this way, for example, the machine may'accommodate different widths of tape as by replacing the guides with others of the desiredl width. These guides may extend upward and support the sheet metal or other top member of the frame on which lthe moistener, cutter and feeder may be mounted or with which they may coperate. If desired also the top member may be formed with guide clips, such as 13, for the tape container and with a suitable runway 14 in which the feeder may be arranged to reciprocate longitudinally of the machine. The tape container is preferably substantially sealed and provided with a suitable practically'closed a erture through which the tape is fed as nee ed and in this way the tape may beshipped and kept in practically sealedcondition so that its deterioration through the action of moisture and similar atmospheric conditions is y minimized not only before but during the urpose the vsup-v 53 on the inoistene, Wheel which and naturally grasped by the operator as h3' being gripped between his thuinh and torelinger as indicated. ln this Way the operator`s iingers when moved along the runway naturallyv come into engagement ivit-h the linger gru 1S of the teede as the parts are iu their normal re racted position shown in Fig. 3 and a simple forward and downward movement of the linger serves to grip the tape and move it forward with the carriage as tar as the. carriage travel permits and their when the carriage stops the operator van readilyY grasp the projecting end et the tape and manually.' vit-hdrau' as niueh of it as is desired while sin'iultaneouslv inoistoning the tape on any suitable. inoistener and then severing' the length by the. action ot' any suitable cooperating severing device which may he provided.

The nioistener -..lay he adrentageousl)T mounted adjacent the end ot thn runway ane. may comprise a removable inoi j such as G5 which may iit Within tnepoeltet or guia:` L? in the 'ranie and have the proie nioistener drinn nieinent hy iitting 'witnthe hraehets on tl support 'eh e. niaclsine i olv provided fri oort or nie-i f LA ivantage o: s

suuarfL rounded corners anu t cooperating numtener may e a eelt n,

tener ot telt oi other suitable lihrous ea illariv aterial extending` over this l and l4 the inoiste f" tanlf; ivliei over he nioistener uruui may he intermittently rotated from time to tiine any suitehle ineans and is preferably heldJ insuch tion tl it its up or aotire nioistening` 'iure is suhstautiz n in the line or v dran'al of the Uuuinied tape .vhio'i inajff' f :v A he readiljv and thoroughlj,T inoistened hjf nioistening and vr'ping action oi@ this inois tener face.. it is also desirable to have suitH doctor, sueh as 38. with the nioistener and e surplus Water there-troni. as it nieves fardlthe inoistener drinn or'supoort this surplus Water is rerncved frein ti outer 'fece of the inoistener While the. ini ^r still @antoine a relatively large amount of Water which is more or less forced up through the porous nioistener ras it cornes in Contact With the druin tace. nioistener niej! he antoniaui *ally revolved lut the der or carriage and for this purpf ,n the oistener leed paul, suer es es., sho-iy in Q. nia'v he mounted on 'are pin i 'l the t. ge and have its :teee'ier earn suffi; position to engage one of the thetape which indicated is the teeth 53 to rotate. the .moistener through f practically7 a quarte-r turn. lt is desirable to hold the inoistener in proper alinenient uuder operating conditions and for this .purpose a suitalole holding` lever, such as 50, may have a holding' pawl 5l Cooperating with the teeth so as to hold the inoistener in alineu'ient atter it fed forward. This holding4 lever inaj: he loosely1 pivoted about the pin 9 in the iront of the runivi y and have its upward inovf'enient liuiited as by the pin This holding' lever is released hr suitable devices ivheii the feeding niov^ ent talles place and for this purpose a ting eannr such i "il, may he Jiornied on thi lever and g pin 59 on the feeder v nl rope therewith as to litt the holding pavvl 'troni the teeth just l et re the feed ing talee-s placeg and oe 1 the E t1 rou cani. more n end or tue t is. it inav is inoved against the cutter 'which 'nav have `a serrated or other suitable v,seierinf' l advanta geous. however. to slightly niovahie and to t y; he pir otalljvv inounted on the inivardl;7 projecting studs or pins 2? in the run' 'aj-x.. so that when swung` upward du i o the severing operation as indicated n G the 'tape "l n first eu the l e S25 of the cutter t nds to swingl ivot So as to swing; down the cutter lool; QG on the roer Q this Cutter into holdingn engagement with the tape and 'thereby prevent any un desirable longitudinal movement thereot during' its severance.. lt is sometimes de-v sirable to interpose a suitahle tane guard between the inoistener and the se i severed sutiieientltv,7 tar haelt to prevent conI tact between this tape end and the inoistene". and 'tor this purpose a suitable inetallie guard., suoli as 3l, inav he uioved uphetvveen the Inoistener and the tape end hiring` or after severance h v aniv suitable means. The inox-*eurent of trie cutter may used :For this purpose. and for eiiai'nple. the cutter inajv7 he provided vu'ith au upwardlv extent po tion or 'cutter rain to ei t ine opere iivl may rac-sees ing member or lug 29 on this guard en d 30 which as indicated may be similarly pivoted about the pins 27. ylihus when the cutter Y is swung upward from its inoperative position shown in Fig. 'E' to 'its locking and severing position shown in Fig.. @the oscillation of the cutter simultaneously oscillates the tape guard so as to move it into its protective position shown in Fig. 6. rlhese parts may, if desired, be automatically returned to the feeding position shown in Fig. 'l' as by suitable devices connected with the feeder1 and for this purpose a releaser bar, such as JET, may be secured to the feeder or its carJ riage, as indicated in Figs. d and o, so as to carry the releaser or inclined surface 6st into engagement with the releaser cam 48 on the guard so as to force this guard downward into its released position and simultaneously swing the cutter 2i into its released feeding positionshown in Fig. 7. ln this way the operation of these parts of the machine is practically automatic and each time a strip ,of tape withdrawn and severed a fresh moisteneisurface is also brought up into moistenine" position. it is of course understood that the mois-tener wheel may be manually rotated so as .to bring up a freshly moistened section of the moistener from the tank when desired incase the machine has not been in service for some time.

This invention lhas been described in connection with a number of illustrative .enibodiments, forms, proportions, materials, parts and arrangements, to the details of which disclosure the invention is not of .course to he limited,k since what is claimed .as new and what is desired to he secured by Letters iatent isset forth inthe appended claims.

l. in tape moisteners, means to support a roll of gurnined tape, a cooperating runway', a feed carriage mounted to reciprocate in said runway and having a retracting spring to normally return the same to rearward position, a feeder pivoted in said carriage and having a feeder grip cooperating with a. plate in said carriage to grip and hold the tape when the same is first fed forward, a feeder lifting spring normallyT holding said feeder grip in inoperative position, a finger grip on said feeder tov be engaged by the finger of an operator during feeding, aslideway in said grip to allow another ngei' of the operator to move forward and engagel the free end of the tape when the forward movement of said carriage ceases, a tape moistener mounted adjacent and ahead of said runway to cooperate with the tape fed forward therethrough, a stationary tape cutter. pivotally mounted in the end of said runway to sever tape extending under the same, a cutter lock on said cutter to hold said tape against movement during the severing operation, a tape guard pivotally mounted adjacentsaid cutter to extend between the end of said cutter and said moistener and interlocking projections on said cutter and guard to throw said tape guard into protective position between said moistenei and the tape end when said cutter is operated and a releaser on said carriage'to move said guard and cutter into inoperative position as said carriage starts forward.4

2. ln tape moisteners, means to support a roll of gu-mmed tape, a cooperating runway, afeed carriage mounted to'reciprocate in said runway and having a retracting spring to normally return the saine to rearward position, a feeder'pivoted in said carriage and having a feeder grip cooperating with a plate in said carriage to grip and hold the tape when-the saine' is first fed forward, a finger grip on said feeder. to be engaged by the 'finger of an operator during feeding,

and to allow another finger of the operator to move forward and engage the free end of the tape when the forward movement of said carriage ceases, a tape moistener mounted adjacent and ahead of said runway to cooperate with the tape fed forward therethrough, a stationary tape cutter pivotally mounted in the end of said runway to sever tape extending under the same, and a cutter lock on said' cutter to hold said tape against movement during the severing operation.

3. ln tape inoisteners, means to support a roll of guinined tape, a cooperating` runway, a feed carriage mounted to reciprocate in said runway, a feeder pivoted in said carriage and having a feeder grip cooperating with a. plate in said carriage to grip and hold the tape when the same is first fed forward, a tape moistener mounted adjacent and ahead of said runway to cooperate with the tape fed forward therethrough, a stationary tape cutter pivotallv mounted adj a-v cent the end of said runway to sever tape extending under the same, a cutter lock ou said cutter to hold said tape against movenient during the severing operation, :i tape guard pivotally mounted adjacent said cutter to extend between the end of said cutter and said moistener and interlocking projections on said cutter and guard to throw said tape guard into vprotettive position between said moistener and the tape end when said cutter is operated and a i'eleaser on said carriage to move said guard and cutter into inoperative position as said carriage starts forward.

4. ln tape inoisteners, means to support a roll'ofgurnmed tape, a coope 'ating runway, a feed carriage mounted to reciprocate in said runway, a feeder pivoted in said carriage and having a feeder grip cooperating with a plate in said carriage to grip and hold the tape when the saine is first fed forward, a tape moistener mounted adjacent and ahead of said runway to cooperate with the tape fed forward therethrough, a stationary tape cutter pivotally mounted adjacent the end of said runway to sever tape extending'under the same, a cutter lock on said cutter to hold said tape against movefment during the severingloperation.

In tapel moisteners, means .to support a roll of lgummed tape, a coperating runway, a feed carriage mounted to reciprocate in said runway, a feeder in said carriage and having a feeder grip to be directly engaged by the hand of an operator to thereupon grip and hold the tape when the same is first fed forward, a tape moistener mounted adjacent and ahead of said runway to cooperate with the tape fedforward therethrough.

6. In tape moisteners, means to support a roll of gummed tape, a feeder having a feedergrip to grip and hold the tape when the same is first fed forward, a finger gr`p on said feeder to be engaged by the fing r of an loperator during feeding and allow another linger of the operator to move forward and engage the free end of the tape when the forward movement ceases,`a tape moistener mounted to coperate with the tape fed forward, a stationary type cutter pivotally mounted to sever tape extending under the same, a cutter lock on said cutter to hold said tape against movement during the severing operation, a tape guard pivotally mounted adjacent said cutter to extend between the end of said cutter and said moistener and interlocking projections on said cutter and guard to move said tape guard into protective position between Said moistener, and the tape end when said cutter is operated and a releaser on said feeder to move said guard and cutter into inoperative position as said feeder starts forward.

7.- In tape moisteners, lmeans to support a roll of gummed tape, a feeder having a feeder grip to grip and hold the tape when the same is first fed forward, a tape moistener mounted to coperate with the tape fed forward, a stationary type cutter pivotally mounted to sever tape extending under the same, a cutter lock on said cutter to hold said tape against movement during the severing operation, a tape guard pivotally mounted adjacent said cutter to extend between the end of said cutter and said moistener and interlocking projections on said cutter and ardto move said tape guard into protective position between said moistener and the tape end when said cutter is operated and arreleaser on said feeder to move said guard and cutter into inoperative position as said feeder starts forward.

8. In tape moisteners, means to support a roll of gummed tape, a feeder, a tape moistener mounted to coperate with the tape fed forward, a stationary tape cutter mounted adjacent the feeder to sever tape extending under the same, a cutter lock on said cutter to hold said tape against movement during the severing operation, a tapev guard mounted adjacent said cutter to extend between the end of said cutter and said moistener and means to move said tape guard into protective position between said moistener and th tape end when said cutter is operated and a releaser. on said feeder to move said guard and cutter into inoperative position as said feeder starts forward.

9. In tape moisteners, means to support a roll of gummed tape, a feeder, a tape moistener mounted to coperate with the tape fed forward, a stationary tape cutter mounted adjacent the feeder 4to sever tape extending under the same, a tape guard mounted adjacent said cutter to extend between the end of said cutter and said moistener and to move said tape guard into protective position between said moistener and the tape end when said cutter is operated.

l0. In tape moisteners, means to support a roll of gummed tape, a feeder, a tape moistener mounted to coperate with the tape fed forward, a stationary tape cutter pivotally mounted to sever the tape extending under the same, a cutter lock on said cutter to hold said tape against movement during the severing operation, a tape guard pivotally mounted adjacent said cutter to extend between the end of said cutter and said moistener and means to move said cutter into protective-position between said mois'tener and the tape end when said cutter is operated and releasing devices to move said guard and cutter into inoperative position as said tape starts forward.

1l. In tapeV moisteners, means tosupport a roll of gummed tape, a feeder, a tape moistener mounted to coperate with the tape fed forward, cutter mounted to sever the tape extending under the same, a c utter lock to hold said tape against movement during the severing operation, a tape guard mounted adjacent said cutter to extend` between the end of said cutter and saidmoistener and means to move said cutter into protective position between said moistener and the tape end when said cutter is operated and releasing devices to move said guardand cutter into/inoperative position as said tape starts forward.

12. In tape moisteners, means to support a roll of gummed tape, a feeder, a tape moistener mounted to coperate with the ta e fed. forward, a cutter mounted to sever the tape, a cutter lock to hold said tape against movement during the severing operatlon, a tape guard mounted adjacent said cutter to extend between the end of said cutter and said moistener and means to move said guard into protective position between said with a plate 13. ln tape moisteners, means to support a roll of gummed tape, a coperating runway, in said runway and having a retracting spring to normally return the same to rearward position, a eeder pivoted in said carriage and having a feeder grip coperating insaid carriage to grip and hold the tape when the same is first fed forward, la feeder lifting springnormally holding said feeder grip in inoperative position, a linger grip on said feeder to be engaged by the nger of an operator during feeding, a slidewayl in said grip to allow another finger ofthe operator engage the free end of the tape when. the forward movement of said carriage ceases, a. tape moistener mounted adjacent and ahead of said runway to coperate with the tape fed forward therethrough, a stationary tape cutter pivotally mounted adjacent the end of said'runway to sever tape extending under the Same, anda cutter lock on said cutterjto hold said tape ,against movement during the severing operation.,

la. ln tape moisteners,.means to support a roll of gummed tape, a coperating runway, a feed carriage mounted to reciprocate in said runway and having a retracting device to normally return the same .to rearward position, a feeder pivoted in said carriage and having a. feeder grip to grip and hold the tape when the same is first fed forward, a. finger grip on said feeder to be engaged by the finger of an operator during feeding, a slideway in said grip to allow another finger of the operator to move forward and engage the free end of the tape when the forward movement of said carriage ceases, a tape moistener mounted adljacent and ahead of said runway to coperate with the tape fed forward therethrough, a stationary tape cutter pivotally mounted adjacent the end of said runway to sever tape extending under the same and a cutter lock on said cutter to hold said tape against movement during the severing operation.

15. lnetape moisteners, means to ysupport a roll of gummed tape, a cooperating run- Wayfa feed carriagemounted'to reciprocate in said runway, a feeder pivot-ed in said carriage andhaving a feeder grip to grip vand hold the tape when the same is first fed forward, a finger grip 0n said feeder to be engaged by the finger of an operator during feeding and allow another finger lof the operator tovmove forward and engage the free end of the tape when the forward movement of said carriage ceases, a tape moistener mounted adjacent and ahead of said lrunway to coperate with the tape fed forward therethrough, a stationary tape cutter mounted adjacent the end of said runway to sever tape.

16. n'tape moisteners, means to support a feed carriage-mounted to reciprocate to move forward and a roll of gummed tape, a co'perating-runway, a feed carriage mounted to reciprocate in said runway, a feeder pivoted in said carriage and having a feeder grip to grip'and hold the tape when the same is first fed forward, a finger grip 'y on Vsaid feeder to' be engaged by the finger of an operator during feeding and allow the operator to engage the freeend of the tape when the forward movement of said carriage ceases, a tape 'moistener mounted adjacent and ahead fof said runway to coperate with the tape fed forward therethrough, a cutter mounted adjacent the endof said runway to sever tape.

17. ln tape moistening machines,'means to support a roll vof gummed tape, a feeder to feed tape from said roll, a'stationary tape cutter beyondfsaid feeder, a removable mois? tener tank and .a belt moistener mounted therein to coperate'with said .ta-pe beyond said/cutter and having a square moistener drum over :which the upper portion of said moistener passes, a lower moistener roll-located in said moistening tank and around which the lower end of rsaid moisteneii passes, a spring doctor device to engage the moistener as it moves toward said moistener drum and means connected with lsaid feeder to intermittently turn said moistener drum and bring the moistener on another face of said drum into moistening ositionsulostantially in line with the fee of the tape to have a -moistening scraping action on the gummed tape moving-over the same.-

18. ln tape moistening machines, means to support a roll of med tape, a feeder to feed tape from said roll, a removable moistener tank and a belt moistener mounted therein to coperate with said tape Aand having. a square moistener. drum over which the upper portion of said moistener` passes, a lower moistener roll located in said moistening tank and around which .the lower end of said moistener passes, a doctor device to engage the moistener as it moves toward said moistener drum and means connected with said feeder to intermittently turn said moistener drum and bring the moistener on another face of'said drum into moistening position substantially in line with the feed of the tape. V j

19. in tape moistening machines, means to support a roll of gummed tape, a feeder to feed tape from said roll, a cutter beyond said feeder, a moistening ytank,a belt mois` tener extending .into said tank-.to coperate with said tape beyond said cutter and hav` ing a polygonal moistener drum over which the `upper portion of saidmoistener passes, a spring doctor device to engage the moistener as it moves toward said moistener drum and means connected with said feeder to intermittently turn said moistener drum and bring the moistener on another face of said drum into moistening position substan- Leashes tially in line with the feed of the tape, to

gummed tape moving over the same.

Q0. In -tape moistening machines, means to support a roll of gummed tape, a feeder to feed tape from said roll, 'a moistening tank, avbelt moistener extending into saidr tank to cooperate with said tape beyond said cutter and having a polygonal moistener drum over which the upper portion of lsaidl moistener passes, and means connected with said feeder to intermittently turn said moistener drum and bring the moistener on an'- other face of said drum into moistening position to have a moistening scraping action on the gummed tape moving over the same.

21. In tape moistening machines, means to support a roll of gummed tape, a moisteningl tank, a belt moistener extending into said tankto coperate with said tape a d having a polygonal moistener drum ov r which the upper portion of said moistener passes, and means to intermittently turn said moistenr drum and bring the moistener on another 'face of said drum into moistening position i 22. In tape moistening machines, means to support a roll of gummed tape, means to withdraw tape from said roll, and a moistener to coperate with said tape and having a square moistener support, and means to intermittently turn said moistener support and bring another face into moistening position substantially in line Wth the feed of the tape to have a moistening and scraping action on the gummed tape moving over the same.

23. In tape moistening machines, means to support a rolled of gummed tape, means to Withdraw tape from said roll, and ay moistener to coperate With-said tape and having a polygonal moistener support, and means to intermittently turn said moistener support and bring another face into moistening position.

24. In tape moisteners, a frame comprising container guides, a container securing device, and moistening and severing devices coperating with the upper part of said frame, and a coperating sealed tape shipping container formed substantially of paper Iand having a roll of tape revolubly mounted therein to be drawn through a tape aperture in the upper part of said container to moisten and sever l'engths of said, tape on said ymoistening and severing devices, said container being engaged and removably held in substantially stationary. position by said guides and substantially embraced by said frame.

25. In tape moisteners, a frame, and moistening and -severing devices-cooperating with said frame, and a coperating sealed tape shipping container lia-ving a roll of tape revolubly mounted'therein to be drawn through a tape aperture in said container to moisten and sever lengths of said tape on said moistening and severing devices, said container being engaged and removably held in substantially stationary position by said frame.

26; In tape moisteners, a frame comprising a container securing device, a moistening and severing device coperating With th upper part of said frame, and a coperating interchangeable substantially sealed tape container having a roll of tape revolubly mounted therein from which the tape may be drawn through a tape aperture in said container to moisten and sever lengths of said tape on said moistening and severing device, Without exposing said roll of tape to undesirable atmospheric influences, `said container being engaged and held in substantially stationary position and substantially embraced by said frame.

27. In tape moisteners, a frame, a moistening and severing device coperating with said frame, and a coperating interchangeable substantially sealed tape container having a roll of tape revolubly mounted therein from which the tape may be drawn through a tape aperture in said container to moisten and sever lengths of said tape on' said moistening and severing device, without exposing said roll of tape to undesirable atmospheric influences, said container being 'engaged and held in substantially stationable substantially sealed tape container held in substantially stationary 'position on said frame and having a roll of tape revolubly mounted therein from which lthe tape may be drawn from said container to moisten and sever lengths of said tape .on said moistening and severing device Without exposing said roll of tape to -undesirable atmospheric influences.

29. In tape moisteners, a frame comprising removable flanged container guides and a container' securing device, and a moistenin and severing device coperating with sa1d frame, and a coperating substantially closed protective tape container removably mounted on said frame in substantially stationar position thereon and having a sup- -ply o tape therein lto be drawn through a braced by said frame.

30. In tape moisteners, a :frame .comprising container guldes and a container securing device, and a moistening device coperating with said frame, and a cooperating substantially closed protective tape container' removabiy mounted on said frame in substantiaily stationary position thereon and having a supply of tape therein to be drawn through a, tape aperture in said container to meisten lengths of said tape on said moistening device Without undesirabiy exposing said tape to' atmospheric moisture said container being engaged and held in said guides and substantially embraced by said frame.

3i. 1n tape moisteners, a frame and a moistening device cooperating with said frame,

reeeee tape therein to be drawn through a tapek aperture in seid container to moisten lengths l ot' said tape on said moistening device Without undesirablyexposing said tape to atmospheric moisture.

Witnesses:

L. A. KAHLER, CHARLES EBE'RHART. 

